News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-21
A Night with Stanton,
JoHNsoN'S SCHEME TO FoRCIBLY EJEC
THE WAR SECRETARY FROM THE DE
PARTMENT=LITDGEP POI AIMS STOpy

To the Editor Of the Republican:
Somebody sent me one of YOUR
mammoth numbers of March 18th.
In letter from Washington contained
in it, l read the following -
The last number of the WASHINGTON
| Gazette contains well engraved likeness
of Gov. John NJ. Thayer, who was very
popular here during his Senatorial career.
He was an intimate friend of Secretary
Stanton, and on the night when Presi-
, dent johnson contemplated having Stan
ton elected from the War Department bv
the marines, Senator Thayer remained
with the Secretary, and would doubtless
have given some hard knocks had the
marines made their appearance.
The above is all true enough, but
it gives but little Of the events of that
somewhat memorable night, and as /
was one of those "who were there"
it occurred to me that some of the
details might interest your readers.
In the afternoon Of that day Presi-
dent johnson sent to the Senate the
name of General Lorenzo Thomas as
Secretary of Var, dd interim, to SUI
percede Secretary Stanton. This
caused great excitement, and the SEN
ate Immediately went into executive
session and remained in session till
near midnight. 1t was during this
session that Mr.. Sumner sent his fa-
nous message to Stanton ito stick"
The late General James Morehead
was then the representative from the
Pittsburg district, and both he and
myself lived at Mrs. Carriers famous
old boarding house on Capitol Hill.
That night Speaker Colfax held the
last of his public receptions for that
session, and as neither General More
head or myself had attended any of
his previous receptions, we decided to
90 to this, but to 60 quite early and to
come away before the crowd became
great. Colfax then lived on the north
side of Lafayette Square, and quite
near the Department. Gen. More
head and myself were the fist arri-
walls athe Speakers reception, and we
were then informed by Colfax that
Stanton was apprehensive of an at
tempt to take forcible possession of
the War Department, and thus put
General Thomas in actual possession
of the office, and that Stanton was at
the War Department and intended to
remain during the night. Mr.. Stan
ton had resided at Pittsburgh for some
period, and he aud General Morehead
were very warm personal friends, and
III hot
and myself were quite intimate and
cordial. We at once took leave of
Speaker Colfax and went direct to the
War Department, where we found Mr..
Stanton alone, except few clerks
scattered about in the rooms near. |
have met many people who seemed
pleased to meet me, but | do not rec
ollect any occasion when the pleasure
seemed greater or the greeting warm
er than we received, and especially
when we announced that we had "come
TO stay" 1t was not long before 9th
ers (mainly Members of Congress)
began to gather, and on the adjourn
ment of the Senate there came quite
reinforcement of Senators. OIL
course the "situation" was the theme
of discussion, and what could he done
or what should be done, was present
ed with all the varying views, such as
a body of men would entertain when
in high state Of excitement. Da-
kota had for delegate at this time
DR.. Burleigh, who was fuller of fun
and mischief than any other man it
has been my fortune TO know. This
DR.. Burleigh had, in some way, got
hold of General Thomas at one of
the Washington hotels, and strength
ened his courage with a few glasses
so that Thomas was declaring stoutly
That be FgouId &c &spith an armed force
and GUST Stanton from the War Dep
artment. DR.. Burleigh, of course was
adroitly encouraging Thomas in his
valiant resolutions and declarations.
Constant reports Of these threats
by Thomas were sent to US at the
War Department, and formed another
element in our discussions. 1t was
finally proposed by some one (but |
do not remember who) that prosecu-
ton he started against Gen. Thomas,
under the recently enacted "tenure of
office law" This met with general
favor, and L was selected, as perhaps |
as handy lawyer as any of the con-
pany, to draw the complaint and
warrant, This proceeded to do as
well as / could under the circumstance
es. Mr.. Stanton signed the com
plant as complainant, and sworn to |
it before Chief Justic Carter of the
District Court. who was one of those |
early on the ground, and the warrant
was signed by Judge Carter.
Before leaving the night at the war
department L must not forget an act
of patriotism that added much to our
comfort and, piehaps, to our courage,
though the latter was not heavily tax
ed. Among others present was the
late Hon. Samuel Hooper, of Massa-
chusetts, commonly called "Uncle
Sam Hooper" He gave the best din
ners in Washington, and was reputed
to have the best larder and other sup
plies. He went home with his car
rage, and returned SO laden that no.
garrison was ever better prepared to
support seige.
A considerable number of us remain
ed with Mr.. Stanton through the night
and in the morning General Thomas
was arrested on the warrant signed bv
Judge Carter, and all threatening to
take possession of the War Depart
ment by force ended. On being
brought before Judge Carter, the
counsel for General Thomas procured
delay for few days, and bail was
given for his appearance.
The Democrats were much exasper-
ated by the tenure of office law, and
think they very generally believed it
to be unconstitutional. They conclud-
ed this case ofGeneral Thomas would
give an opportunity for a speedy de-
cision of the validity of the law bv
having General Thomas decline to
furnish bail and he committed, and
then brought before the court by writ
ha6eoS corpus. Everything was ar
ranged accordingly, and on the dav
Thomas, case came up before Judge
Carter, Thomas and his counsel ap-